No Easy Way [from the library of Naomi Jacob]

Naomi Jacob’s personal copy of her own novel. Worn black cloth, the front panel of the jacket laid down on the front pastedown as was Jacob’s habit with her own copies of books. Opposite is written in her hand: ‘NAOMI JACOB SIRMIONE PROV. DE BRESCIA.’ Prolific, opininated and wildly eccentric (listen to her appearance on Desert Island Discs with the BBC), Jacob’s life choices feel much more of our time than her own. Although born in Ripon in North Yorkshire, Jacob lived for much of her adult life on the shores of Lake Garda in Sirmione where she kept this book.